4 JULY 1998, Page 36

Drinks on Jesus

Sir: The title `Croesus in league with Jesus' (Books, 27 June) is not only offensive, but inaccurate. Jesus never stopped anybody from having a drink in His life. If a Holy Josephine flung herself down on her knees in a pub it was the fault of John D. Rocke- feller Sr for not making hers more interest- ing in other ways.

Already, after two trial issues, I have noticed the implication in your magazine that one may have intelligence or religion, but not both. Last week I wrote to suggest that God might just possibly outlive Theodore Dalrymple, who had said that He was dead. You declined to publish.

Pamela Hill

89A Winchester Street, London SW1